• Posted: May 13, 2024
• Amanda Blair, better communities, better construction, Community Building, Elbert Walters III, Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) of Chicago and Cook County, Englewood, IBEW Local 134, IBEW-NECA Technical Institute, Park Forest, powering chicago, Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago, sisters of ibew

 

At Powering Chicago, we understand the importance of volunteer work, which is why every year, our member contractors join Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago to restore homes on National Rebuilding Day. This year, more than 1,500 volunteers came together to repair over 60 homes in the Englewood and Park Forest neighborhoods. 

“This marks Powering Chicago’s 24th year participating in this initiative, and it was incredibly rewarding to help provide the residents of Englewood and Park Forest with a safer and more comfortable home,” said Elbert Walters, Executive Director of Powering Chicago. “As an organization that prioritizes safety, ensuring the electrical work was properly installed was especially gratifying.”

Powering Chicago had a total of  230 registered electrician volunteers, and more than 12 of these volunteers generously donated 22 service vehicles, including power tools, ladders, and other materials needed. 38 homes were in need of electrical safety repair. This is where Powering Chicago’s volunteers played a huge role. Their job was to make sure that all electrical components were safe and functioning. Some of the work they completed included covering plate installations and grounding electrode conductors for electrical service panels. While the volunteers accomplished a significant amount of work during the day of service, it’s crucial to recognize that the real measure of success lies in how these improvements positively impact the lives of those served.

“It’s surprising to see so many reactions afterward, just the wholehearted gratitude for the simple outlet change out or the lights that weren’t working are now working again,” said Amanda Blair, President of Sisters of the IBEW. “I’m blessed and so grateful for being able to provide that and seeing that we can change someone’s life with the flip of a switch.”

Year after year, this amazing volunteer opportunity allows Powering Chicago members to give back to the communities they serve and represent. By working with volunteer members and ECA Chicago, Powering Chicago signatory electrical contractors provided a safer living environment for those in the Englewood and Park Forest neighborhoods.  Powering Chicago looks forward to participating in National Rebuilding Day in the upcoming years.